COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (July 13, 2017) Students in 16 orphanages in Jamaica will have the tools they need to start the school year off right, thanks to a generous donation from Bankers Healthcare Group (BHG).

Wearing T-shirts with the letters PMA, which stands for "positive mental attitude," an assembly line of employees at BHG's offices in Davie on Wednesday stuffed 500 new backpacks with pencils, composition books, markers and other school supplies.

Many Jamaican children struggle to afford the basic supplies they need to go to school every day. Food For The Poor's Angels Of Hope child sponsorship program provides loving care, food, clothing, shelter, and education for more than 6,100 children in 157 orphanages throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.

"We take pride in working with Food For The Poor because we're able to help children in an immediate and meaningful way," said Bankers Healthcare Group President Bob Castro. "Every child, regardless of circumstances, should have access to an education, and we hope this donation makes it a little easier for their families."

This is the third year that BHG has partnered with Food For The Poor. To date, BHG, a provider of financial solutions for healthcare professionals, has donated backpacks filled with school supplies for 1,500 orphans in the Caribbean.

Last year, BHG also donated $10,000 to help build two new water systems. But after Hurricane Matthew ravaged Haiti in October 2016 and destroyed one of the two orphanages set to benefit from the water project, the charity and the BHG agreed to channel the money into reconstruction of the orphanage.

BHG's partnership with Food For The Poor began in 2015, to honor the life of Castro's brother-in-law Peter "Tato" Estrada, who lost his battle with cancer that year. Estrada was committed to helping children in need.

"We love working with Food For The Poor on this project," said Sofia Castro, wife of BHG President Bob Castro. "I'm proud to be part of this effort in honor and memory of my brother, Peter, who was dedicated to helping children in need."

Tricia Lujambio, Director of Food For The Poor's Angels Of Hope program, thanked BHG volunteers for their time and generous contribution. She said the backpacks will get students excited about school.

"Many children in the Angels Of Hope program are getting the opportunity to attend school for the first time without the burdens of household responsibilities or costs," Lujambio said. "The generous donation of these quality backpacks and school supplies from BHG only multiplies those blessings. Not only are they given access to education, they will have the tools and supplies to allow them to excel and make the most of it."

Bankers Healthcare Group provides innovative, hassle-free financial solutions exclusively to healthcare professionals. Since 2001, BHG has funded more than $2.6 billion to satisfied customers nationwide and worked with more than 100,000 practitioners. BHG is partially owned by Pinnacle Financial Partners (PNFP). To learn more, visit www.bankershealthcaregroup.com, and follow BHG on Twitter.

Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor primarily in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance. Over the last 10 years, fundraising and other administrative costs averaged less than 5% of our expenses; more than 95% of all donations went directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Over the last 10 years, fundraising and other administrative costs averaged less than 5% of our expenses; more than 95% of all donations, including donated goods, go directly to programs that help the poor.